N peters



(No Model.)

J. B. WILLIAMS & J. P. SMITH.

THILL GOUPLING.

No. 351,083. Patented Oct. I9, 1886.

UNTTED STATES PATENT Fries..

JAMES B. VILLIAMS AND JOSEPH P. SMITH, OF GLASTONBURY, CONN.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,083, dated October 19, 1886.

(No model.)

To LZZ wtmn/ it may concern:

Be it known that we, J AMES B. WILLIAMs and JosErH P. SMITH, both of Glastonbury, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Shackle-Joints, ofwhich the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, where- Figure l is a side view of one form of acarriage-shackle embodying our invention. Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view in cross-section of the same on plane denoted by line a: a: of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a detail view of several forms of renewable bearings. Fig. 5 is a plan view of an alternate form of a carriageshackle embodying ourimprovement. Fig. 6 is a detail view in section through the bolt and shackle on plane denoted by line yy of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is afront view of a whifletree-shackle. Fig. 8 is a view in vertical crosssection through the pivot of the device on plane denoted by line a," m of Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the parts similar to those shown in Fig. 8. except that the removable bearing e has a larger opening through it.

Our improvement relates more particularly to the class known as carriagefshackles, and it consists inthe combination, with a shackle, of a removable bearing of peculiar configuration. so combined and arranged in the device as more efiectually to permit of the taking up of either endwise or lateral wear of the bearing parts by simply tightening up the bolt conl to 3 the body ofthe shackle is made in two pieces, a a2, bearing upturned ears a3 a4, respectively, which are perforated sidewise for the passage of the bolt d. The inner faces of these ears upon each side of the bolt-hole and one or both faces of the shank b of the thill are provided with curved or equivalent recesses, and in these recesses and between the ears on the coupling and theshank of the thill are seated removable bearings e, which conform in outline to thc outline of the socket, andwhich are also perforated for the passage of the bolt d. These bearings e may be of metal-as iron, steel, or Babbitt metal, or of an elastic material, as india-rubber or leathfer-but are preferably of a very firm compact material, and in shape these bearings are cylindrical` or, preferably, spherical, spheroidal, oval, or similar shaped body having a rounded surface. In each shape, however, the hole through the bearing and that through the thill-shank for the passage of the bolt are preferably larger in diameter than the bolt, so that when the parts are all put together, as shown in Fig. 1, the shearing strain in using the device does not come upon the bolt, but on the bearings that are interposed between the ear on the body of the coupling and the shank of the thill or like part.

Instead of the form above described, in which the shank of the thill is held between the two ears on the coupling, the shank b and coupling a may be halved together, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and in this form the renewable bearing e is placed between the adjacent surfaces in a similar position as in the other form.

In Figs. 7 and 8 our improvement is shown as embodied in a shackle adapted to connect the cross-bar of the shafts or pole of a wagon and a Whifetree, and in this the bearing is located between parts precisely as in the devices already described. \Vhenever the parts Wear so as to become loose and rattle, they may be tightened by screwing up the nut on the bolt thatjoins them; but our device is less liable to become l'oose than prior devices, and has the further advantages of being easily and cheaply repaired by replacing a worn out with a new bearing piece. These bearingloo It is understood that a clamp or likel means of holding the shackle parts together may be used in place of the bolt d.

IVe are aware that removable bearing-pieces of cylindrical and double colloidal form have been employed; but the angular edges in such constructions render them objectionable, because of the shearing action they have ou the parts With Which they are in contact.

We claim as our invention-' 1. In combination, a shackle-body, a, having ears a3 a", having. curved recessed inner faces, thill-shank b, with eye c, having curved recessed sides, removable bearing-pieces e, hav; ing faces curved to correspond with the recessed faces located between said recessed faces of the shank and ears, and bolt d, allV snbstantially as described.

2. In combination, a shackle body, a thill shank, a removable spherical or spheroidal bearing seated `in a corresponding recess formed in the adjacent faces of both shackle` body and shank of the thill, and means, substantially as described, for holding the parts s 

